Night Walkers - Halloween 2023

Chapter 17

Carson and I tiptoed past the creature's body, down the stairs to the kitchen then out the backdoor that had been left open. Carson held my hand tight, as we crept through the back yard and peered around the side of the house.

"I don't see anything right now." He whispered.

"Do you hear anything?"

He paused to listen. The sirens had already gone off earlier on, at dusk. No cicadas or crickets chirped; the night was silent. Except for the sounds of the Nelemec. They were on the hunt.

"Nothing." He replied.

We crept between houses, sticking to the shadows and making sure to check around corners and staying away from the streetlights. Eventually, we made it to the house across the street from his.

"It looks like the coast is clear." Carson stated.

I glanced around to double check and saw nothing. "I agree. Let's go."

Carson and I jogged across the street, doing our best to stay quiet. Right as we reached the sidewalk in front of Carson's house, a Night Walker crept out from behind his neighbor's house.

We paused in our tracks when we spotted it.

I began to panic. I held on to Carson's hand tighter.

"Breathe, Amellia. Stay calm."

I took a deep breath and pushed my fear down, as deep as I could then tried to focus on how we were going to get inside the house.

The creature spotted us as well and grinned from ear to ear.

"It sees us." I pointed out.

"Yup. Stay as calm as you can."

"Should we make a run for it?"

"If we make a run for it and the door is locked, that could be it for us. But if we make a run for it in the other direction, it'll still chase us, and we could run into another one or three. Either way, it won't end well for us if anything goes wrong." He weighed the options.

I squeezed his hand. "Let's try the house. If it's unlocked, we'll be safe unlike running into the night where more could be lurking."

"Okay. Let's go." He sprinted across the lawn, still holding my hand. I sprinted behind him. At the same time, the creature charged after us.

We reached the front door and Carson attempted to twist the knob, but it wouldn't budge. "Shit." He mumbled then pounded on the door. "Open the door!"

Just as the creature reached the steps behind us, the door creeped open and Carson pushed his way inside, yanking me in with him then slamming the door shut just as the creature slammed its body against the door. and I prayed the hinges would hold. Carson used his body weight to keep the door shut while he locked it.

"Sorry, McKinnley." Carson said to a shocked older man in a pristine, black suit and white gloves. His grey hair was slicked back, and his black dress shoes were neatly polished. "You were opening the door too slow. Are you alright?"

The man straightened out his suit jacket and gave a curt nodded.

"Good. Have everyone make sure all the doors and windows are locked." Carson ordered.

The man nodded again. "Yes, sir." Then he spun on his heel and left us.

Carson grabbed my hand and led me upstairs to a hallway with doors on each side, lined up at even intervals. At the end of the hallway, was a large, beautiful mirror, framed with a delicately carved, gold frame. There were several paintings and photos on the walls between the doors; several appeared to be pictures of family members while others were detailed paintings of different sceneries.